“Sustainable Chemistry, Innovative and Competitive Companies” seminar will allow exploring, through real case studies, how the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries can make use of new solutions, implement new processes and improve profitability by innovating with sustainability criteria.

Sustainability and competitiveness are strategic priorities for the European chemical industry; accordingly, the II Conference “Sustainable Chemistry, innovative and competitive companies”, organized by the Spanish Platform of Sustainable Chemistry, SUSCHEM ESPAÑA, together with Chemistry and Society forum FORO QUÍMICA Y SOCIEDAD and IESE Business School, offers first-hand presentations on the solutions the industry has implemented towards greater sustainability and competitiveness, referring to new approaches to production plants, and new materials and processes. The chemical industry, being at the start of most value chains and supplying its products to all sectors of the economy, is at the forefront of the transition to a more sustainable development.

Production plants for greater competitiveness

The emergence of global marketing networks and the intense pressure on prices are leaving their mark on the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Producers must ensure that faster time to market does not affect product quality. The engineering teams which design chemical plants must take all of these factors into account, for the importance of efficient resource utilization is ever-increasing. During the course of its lifecycle, a chemical plant undergoes a continual process of modernization, rationalization and systems replacement, towards a greater competitiveness and sustainability.

On the other hand, a world-scale plant is not always the best solution, particularly when the economy slows down. Small, modular plants which give the user enough flexibility to adapt as markets evolve are often the better alternative outside of the basic chemicals sector and so, the general trend towards modular design and higher levels of automation continues. Modular design increases flexibility, and users can react more quickly to changing market conditions at less cost. Automation offers the advantage of good, reproducible quality.

New materials for greater energy efficiency

To be complete, energy efficiency needs to span to the building itself; “Sustainable Chemistry, innovative and competitive companies” Conference includes solutions for energy efficiency in construction in both the buildings envelope and its structure.

New ecological solutions will also be presented for soil and water decontamination, necessarily called for in some processes. Since chemistry enables the great majority of manufactured products, world challenges will ultimately be solved by the chemical industry.

The Conference also includes:

Panel Session “2050: The Future of Industry”

Expert Panel on industry development during the next decades. Among participants are: Luis Serrano, Solvay General Manager for Spain and Portugal and President of the Spanish Chemical Industry Federation, FEIQUE; Mr. Carles Navarro, Commercial Director BASF Española, and Dr. Gernot Klotz, CEFIC Executive Manager Research & Innovation.

I Investment Forum on Sustainable Chemistry

The aim of the Investment Forum is to provide private investors and Family Offices access to entrepreneurs with innovative projects in the Sustainable Chemistry area -Plant Design; New Processes & Reactions; New materials; Industrial Biotechnology; Nanotechnology- that have high growing potential.

Spanish Projects at the initial phases of development –whereas start-up of growing- will be presented, all of them having dedicated entrepreneur teams, experienced in their sectors, with ideas of high market potential and in search of financing between 200.000 and 2 million Euros. Deadline for Project Presentation is January 15, 2011.

An evaluation committee by members of the organizing institutions, Sustainable Chemistry experts and private investment experts will choose between 6 and 8 selected projects. IESE Angels Network and Family Offices will then offer a coaching program for project presentations.

Presentation at the Investment Forum
There will be 15-minute presentations on key aspects of the business and investment opportunity.